This team beat or almost beat 3 of 4 Conference Championship teams

[TruBlueCowboy]

If watching a legit 16-0 contender (Indy) not even reach the Conference Championship, and then 3 of the 4 teams that did (Carolina, Denver, Seattle) all teams that Dallas beat or should have beat... if this doesn't convince you that Parcells is doing a great job, you are blind and crazy. With a few offseason tweaks and barring drastic injury, this team is a Super Bowl contender next year.

If we had a kicker, we would have beat both Seattle and Denver. One measly field goal by Cortez, and later Cundiff, would have allowed the Cowboys to keep the game under control in the final minutes and win. Even without a kicker and left tackle, the Cowboys beat Carolina. Plus, the Cowboys played the Denver and Carolina games near the end of the season when both teams had found their Playoff tempo.

The NFL stinks. I was so down on our team and then I saw the teams that made it and it made me realize how much parity is in this league. We have a football mastermind of a coach and GM who with one terrific offseason has already made this team capable of going to the Super Bowl. If Flozell hadn't gone down and we had signed a kicker, we'd be real Playoff contenders right now. Next year, this team might go all the way, and if Parcells retires, we still have a team capable of reaching the Playoffs for a few years. Believe in Bill.

 

[jterrell]

I won't say it means BP did a great job this year but I will say it should place some perspective on the final record.

We had 2 divisional foes get to 10 wins AND played 3 of the 4 Conference finalists. Thats 7 of 16 games. Sheesh.

How we performed on those games tell me we are close. Real close.

Give me a healthy Henry and Flo and I would have loved our shot in the playoffs.

We did that with alot of new faces and young kids which makes me feel good going forward.

 

[Chuck 54]

Unfortunately, this means absolutely nothing...nadda. TEams for whom we were just another game on their schedule. If anyone thinks we could have matched Carolina's intensity and beaten them in the playoffs, they're dreaming.

We're improving, but we still have too many shortcomings...we still stink. Until you get an OL and RB who can run the ball consistantly and a QB who makes huge plays even when under constant pressure, the offense isn't ready for the playoffs. And until you have a defense that can pressure the QB and get better safety play, you aren't ready for the playoffs on defense.

Maybe next year if the offseason goes well. If we'd beaten all 4 of the final teams, but lost 7 other games and missed the playoffs, we still are a below average team.

 

[jterrell]

Unfortunately, this means absolutely nothing...nadda. TEams for whom we were just another game on their schedule. If anyone thinks we could have matched Carolina's intensity and beaten them in the playoffs, they're dreaming.

We're improving, but we still have too many shortcomings...we still stink. Until you get an OL and RB who can run the ball consistantly and a QB who makes huge plays even when under constant pressure, the offense isn't ready for the playoffs. And until you have a defense that can pressure the QB and get better safety play, you aren't ready for the playoffs on defense.

Maybe next year if the offseason goes well. If we'd beaten all 4 of the final teams, but lost 7 other games and missed the playoffs, we still are a below average team.

9-7 doesn't make you below average.

We DID get pressure including specifically versus Carolina.
What QB makes huge plays when under constant pressure?

Some of the criticisms crack me up.
Was Carolina awesome last year? What was the difference? Oh injuries....

 

[wxcpo]

If watching a legit 16-0 contender (Indy) not even reach the Conference Championship, and then 3 of the 4 teams that did (Carolina, Denver, Seattle) all teams that Dallas beat or should have beat... if this doesn't convince you that Parcells is doing a great job, you are blind and crazy.

So let me get this straight. If we don't agree with you that because this team lost close games to 2 out of 3 conference championship teams it means Parcells is doing a great job we are blind?

Sorry, but I have to disagree and I have perfect vision. If Parcells would have played for more than FGs in the games against Denver and Seattle we very well may have won those games. He knew our problems at kicker yet played for FGs when he should have went for more to put the game away.

We have fallen along ways when we accept a loss as a sign of great things to come.

 

[dcjules]

With parity the NFL comes down to week to week, who plays better , who gets the breaks....sometimes it also who plays decents due to all of teh "bad" football out there......with that said, the initial point is correct....watching all these games tells me we arent far away.....this year points out how things can change in one year.....

 

[Clove]

We're improving, but we still have too many shortcomings...we still stink. Until you get an OL and RB who can run the ball consistantly and a QB who makes huge plays even when under constant pressure, the offense isn't ready for the playoffs. And until you have a defense that can pressure the QB and get better safety play, you aren't ready for the playoffs on defense.

All teams could use 3 or 4 more players not just us. Some could use more, but I think we are on the brink. If we could have provided a few more plays in the kicking game, we could be there.

Even the best teams have problems slowing down certain things. The great bears defense gave up over 100 yards rushing and over 300 yards passing. And we used to think our defense sucked at times. Also, we run up nearly 400 yards on a great defense in Carolina, only limiting them to just over 300 yards.

So this shows that we're not far away. We have alot to do, but our team is not in denial and BP I think will be in the NFC Championship next season, and possibly with home field advantage (providing we fix a few crutial areas)

 

[Chuck 54]

9-7 doesn't make you below average.

We DID get pressure including specifically versus Carolina.
What QB makes huge plays when under constant pressure?

Some of the criticisms crack me up.
Was Carolina awesome last year? What was the difference? Oh injuries....

You're welcome to your opinion, and when Parcells retires or leaves for more money or TV and we still haven't played in a championship game, you can at least say we weren't 5-11.

 

[Chuck 54]

All teams could use 3 or 4 more players not just us. Some could use more, but I think we are on the brink. If we could have provided a few more plays in the kicking game, we could be there.

Even the best teams have problems slowing down certain things. The great bears defense gave up over 100 yards rushing and over 300 yards passing. And we used to think our defense sucked at times. Also, we run up nearly 400 yards on a great defense in Carolina, only limiting them to just over 300 yards.

So this shows that we're not far away. We have alot to do, but our team is not in denial and BP I think will be in the NFC Championship next season, and possibly with home field advantage (providing we fix a few crutial areas)

It's only my opinion, but we are so far away from having a legit playoff OL, I don't see that being fixed in less than 3 years...maybe it will improve in 1, be patched in 2....either that or it's really bad coaching. I'll say this...if Parcells manages to put together a top OL by next season, I'll definitely give him full credit for it, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Clove]

It's only my opinion, but we are so far away from having a legit playoff OL, I don't see that being fixed in less than 3 years...maybe it will improve in 1, be patched in 2....either that or it's really bad coaching. I'll say this...if Parcells manages to put together a top OL by next season, I'll definitely give him full credit for it, but I'm not holding my breath.

WE didn't have a problem before Flo went down. We don't need an all world OLINE, we just need a decent RT, and a center who wants to fight back. Rivera was hurt, and even if he comes back the same, we have several guys (Gurode,Tucker & company) who are better suited for the guard position, and one of them can be good enough to open holes every now and then.

 

[Nors]

Great post - I said the same.

Those that are crying about our Oline (deservedly).....

How did we win 9 games?

Flo and a RT and a few more offensive weapons in draft and we are more than there.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

So what you are saying is that we missed the playoffs because of Flo's injury? Injuries are part of the game, you don't see NE using injries as an excuse. They were forced to start two rookies on the left side of the line, and lost their secondary for much of the season. The difference, IMO, is coaching. NE just seems to bring in players, coach them, put them out there and they play and make plays.

As far as saying that we were a PK away from beating Seattle and Denver, keep in mind that we could and maybe should have lost to SD and SF, amongst others.

We need to get 3/5 or 4/5 of a new offensive line and a coach who knows what he is doing, and even then it will take time for the OL to gel.

 

[Reality]

For the programmers ..

regular season != playoffs

-Reality

 

[Asklesko]

Well, let's just go tell Paul Tagliabue about how "deserving" we are to get into the playoffs. I mean, look, we played Denver, Carolina, and Seattle hard. I mean, we DESERVE to get into the playoffs, right? Even if we weren't good enough to get in without pouting and acting like children, we should still be given a chance. Let's try it, see what he says.

 

[FolsomCowboy]

Too bad your genius Parcells totally whiffed on a 2nd and 3rd round Oline draft choice in 2004, they could have come in handy this year dont ya think.

 

[superpunk]

Well, let's just go tell Paul Tagliabue about how "deserving" we are to get into the playoffs. I mean, look, we played Denver, Carolina, and Seattle hard. I mean, we DESERVE to get into the playoffs, right? Even if we weren't good enough to get in without pouting and acting like children, we should still be given a chance. Let's try it, see what he says.

Is anyone saying Dallas deserved to go to the playoffs? I doubt it, although I didn't scrutinize everyone's posts in this thread. Rather, I think the spirit of the first post was to show that, hey, we can play with these guys, and have a winning season. The future is bright. Noone thinks the Cowboys deserve some sort of specialized playoff berth, but they're looking good for next year.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Maybe a TRUE great coach would have actually found a way to WIN those games.

 

[superpunk]

Maybe a TRUE great coach would have actually found a way to WIN those games.

Really? What's your definition of a truly great coach. One that can magically push field goals through uprights? If not, then a truly great coach wouldn't have stood a chance.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

We're improving, but we still have too many shortcomings...we still stink. Until you get an OL and RB who can run the ball consistantly and a QB who makes huge plays even when under constant pressure, the offense isn't ready for the playoffs. And until you have a defense that can pressure the QB and get better safety play, you aren't ready for the playoffs on defense.

Well if you fix 1 of those things you are griping about, namely the OL, the other 2 will fall into place. Believe me, if we re-work this O-Line, this team will be ALOT better. Get us a OLB who can rush the passer besides Ware, and this team is a LEGIT Super Bowl contender

 

[neosapien23]

Well if you fix 1 of those things you are griping about, namely the OL, the other 2 will fall into place. Believe me, if we re-work this O-Line, this team will be ALOT better. Get us a OLB who can rush the passer besides Ware, and this team is a LEGIT Super Bowl contender

How are we going to fix this oline. The FA crop is really weak and if we draft linemen, it will probably take at least 2 years for them to perform to their potential.